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World War 3 FEARS: US could go to war with China over shock ‘plan to take Taiwan by force’

Saturday, January 6, 2018

By Paul Martin

TENSIONS are rising in the South China Sea with some observers convinced China is plotting to take control of Taiwan by force – potentially sparking a devastating war with Donald Trump’s United States.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a mutinous province that will always be part of China and some hardline officials believe the longer the island remains outside Beijing’s rule, the harder it will be to get back.

Experts believe a timetable to seize the island has already been drawn up and say Chinese generals are planning to make their move in 2020.

The observers believe America’s beefed up security presence in the region – along with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pledge to achieve the “great rejuvenation of the nation” – have prompted Beijing to ditch calls for a peaceful solution and look instead at military options.

And there are fears such actions could easily spark a global conflict with Taiwan having a powerful ally in Washington which is bound by treaty to go to its aid if the island is under attack despite having no formal diplomatic relations.

Deng Yuwen, a researcher at the Charhar Institute think tank, said there were at least four reasons why Beijing would risk global condemnation and possible all-out war by scrapping its policy of peaceful negotiation and opting for unification by force.

He said: “First, after extending economic help to the island for years, Beijing has still failed to win the hearts and minds of its people. Instead, cross-strait relations have deteriorated.

“Second, as one generation of Taiwanese replaces another, the ‘Chinese’ identity among the people will only grow weaker.

“Third, the influence of Taiwan’s political parties is waning. Even if the Kuomintang wins back power, it would not be in a position to lead cross-strait unification.

“Fourth, more and more Chinese people are calling for unification by force.”